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25
INFECTIOUS DISEASES, AND MEASURES
TAKEN TO PREVENT THEIR SPREAD.
Owing to the Small Pox epidemic, special precautions had to be
taken during the year. A new up-to-date ambulance was provided for
Scarlet Fever and Diphtheria patients, and the ambulance previously
in use was used solely for Small Pox.
Upon receipt of the notifications of cases of Small Pox and Chicken
Pox in persons over 12 years, I immediately paid a visit to the sufferer,
and satisfied myself that the case was one for removal or otherwise. In
three cases, notification of Chicken Pox enabled me, in consultation
with the medical attendant, to diagnose Small Pox, and subsequent
developments proved the correctness of this opinion, only in one case
was an urticaerial rash diagnosed as Small Pox, Every case of Small
Pox was removed to Dagenham or South Mimms, excepting one who
died within 24 hours from Hsemorrhage.
The following routine was adopted in every case where possible:
Notification to Vaccination Officer, to School Board, managers of
Voluntary Schools, to Medical Officer of Health, where contacts
resided or worked, with daily observation of same where possible for
14 days, distribution of leaflets to the inhabitants of the same road in
which a case had occurred advising them to be vaccinated or
re-vaccinated.
In all cases one of the Sanitary Inspectors makes a visit to the house
invaded by infectious illness, and he carefully examines the sanitary
condition existing and makes enquiries into the milk and water supply,
noting the number of inmates and how employed.
Printed instructions are left as to the precautions necessary to be
taken and how best effected. Any clothing made on the premises is
carefully disinfected before removal, the Medical Officer for the district
whither the work is to be sent is notified, and no further work is taken
in until the house has been disinfected.
When children are attending school from an infected house, notification
is sent to the Head Teachers, and such children are excluded.
Upon the recovery or removal of the patient, the house is disinfected
and, in cases of Scarlet Fever, three weeks must elapse, and in
Diphtheria two weeks, before any of the children resume attendance at
school.